Valve mechanism



(No Model.) 7 3 Sheets-Sheet; 1. P. P. HIGH.

VALVE MECHANISM.

Patented July 2,1895.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets- SJheet 2.

P. P. HIGH. l VALVE MECHANISM.

No. 541,356. Patented July '2, 1895.

INVENTOR fiederck 1? 55 ATTORNEY (No Model.) 7 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. P. P.HIGH.

VALVE MEOHANISM. No. 541,856. Patented July 2, 1895.

INVENTOR ATTOR N EY lNrTnn STATES PATENT FFICE.

FREDERICK P. HIGH, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TOFRANK BURT, OF MANNINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA.

VALVE MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part. of Letters Patent. No. 541,856, dated July2, 1895. Application filed February 26,1896. Serial N5. 639,727. (nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERIGK P. HIGH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pittsburg, Allegheny county, State of Pennsyl- Vania, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Valve Mechanism to Produce aVariable Cut'Off, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is of particular importance when used in connection withlocomotive engines, although it is generally applicable to I all formsof engines in which a supplemental valve is utilized in regulating thecut-off or lead of steam into the cylinder.

The objects of myinvention are to provide a cut-off regulatingmechanism, simple in construction, accessible for repairs or adjustment,inexpensive, and so constructed that it is impossible toslip aneccentric.

My invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a side elevation of my invention attached to a locomotive.Fig. 2 is a plan view of a detailed portion of my invention. Fig. 3is aplan View of a portion of my invention. Fig. 4 is a plan View of thatportion of my invention shown in Fig. 3, and partly in section. Fig. 5is a side elevation of the part shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a perspectiveview of a detailed portion of the invention, and Fig. 7 is a partsectional elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3, the section beingtaken on the line 0c.r, looking in the direction of the arrow indicatedthereon.

Similar letters referto similar parts through out the several figures.

A is a steam chest or valve casing which carries the valve regulatingthe cut-off, or lead of steam into the cylinder. In place of the linkmotion 110W ordinarily in use whereby the throw of the valve in thesteam chest is regulated, I substitute the mechanism constituting thesubject matter of my invention.

B is a valve-stem leading into the chest A and connected to the valvetherein.

D is a disk shaped plate adjustably supported as hereinafter described,so as to perform the function of an eccentric-cam.

E is a strap bearing around a peripheral edge of the eccentric cam D.

F is the eccentric rod rigidly secured to the ring E and pivotallyattached at its opposite end to the valve stem B.

G is a revoluble shaft, carrying by preference journals G G, bearinginsuitable journal supports H II. Cranks I I are fixed on the oppositeends of the shaft G and said cranks are pitched with reference to eachother in planes passinglongitudinallythrough the shaft and at rightangles to each other.

J J are cranks fixed to the driving wheels. The crank I and the crank Jon the same side of the engine should liein parallel planes, as shown inFig. 1.

K is a connecting rod between the driving wheels and connecting thecranks J J.

L is a pitman connecting the crank I on the shaft G with the rod K sothat as the engine is advanced or backed, the movement of the connectingrod K will transmit motion to the crank I so thatthe cranks I and J willmove together and keep in parallel planes.

The eccentric-cams D D are loosely mounted on the shaft G so that bymeans of the device hereinafter described, the said cams may be movednearer to or farther away from the axial center of the shaft G, for thepurpose of giving more or less throwto the valve stem B with which thesaid eccentric-cams are connected as above described. The eccentriccatnD is prevented from moving longitudinally on the shaft Gby the presenceof a fixed journal G on one side and the fixed crank I on the otherside.

M M are wedges located in pairs on each end of the shaft G and adaptedto be moved longitudinally thereon, the outer or inclined edges of thesaid wedges inclining in the same direction. (See Figs. 4 and 6.) Thesewedges M M pass through the eccentric cam D and support the same, therebeing channels, similar to key seats in the perforation in each of theeccentric-cams through which the shaft G and wedges M M pass. Byshifting the longitudinal position of the wedges M M the position of theeccentric-cams D D will be changed so that the throw of theeccentric-rod F communicating with the valve-stem B may be varied. Tocause the wedges M M to shift, any suitable mechanism may be provided,the device for accomplishing this purpose herein illustrated, being thepreferable form.

ping an eccentric.

N is a ring loosely mounted at a point intermediate in-thelength of theshaft G. This ring is connected to the wedges M M by suitable links 0 0.

P is a rectangular lever, one end of which is suitably connected to thering N and the other end is suitably connected to the rod Q which leadsback to the reversing lever R so that by moving the reversinglever Rforward or back the longitudinal position of the ring N upon theshaftGis changed, thereby shifting the longitudinal position of thewedges M M, thereby changing the lateral position of the cams D D forthe purpose described.

In operation the parts being light may be shifted very easily. Thebearing points being V few require little oil, and the entire mechanismmay be readily inspected to ascertain the condition of the parts. Aworkman of ordinary skill can readjust or insert new parts, whereas, torepair or reset the link mechanism it requires most expert workmanship.By preference the ends of the shaft G upon which the wedges M M findtheir support, are channeled as shown in Fig. 6, so that the wedges actas splines between the parts G and D thereby preventing the possibilityof slip- The connecting parts by which motion is transmitted may besubstituted by any well known mechanical means, without disturbing theessential portion of my invention.

It is obvious that without departing from the spirit of my invention thewedges M M might be secured to the revoluble shaft G, and the said shaftmight be so mounted that it could partake of longitudinal movement,thereby performing the function of shifting the lateral position of thecam M. In such an event suitable bearings for the cam M could beprovided to prevent side displacement of the said cam.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Pat- 'ent, is-

1. An adjustable valve mechanism, consisting of a shaft G, journal Gjournal support H, saidshaft G being adapted to be revolved in keepingwith the revolutions of the main shaft, a cam wheel supported on saidshaft,

and means for varying the lateral position of longitudinal adjustablewedges M M to give lateral adjustment to said cam wheel, and with meansfor rotating said supplemental shaft, and for shifting the position ofthe wedges M, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. A variable cut-off mechanism, consisting of a supplemental revolubleshaft G, crank I and pitman L communicating with a connecting rod K,longitudinally adjustable wedges supported in channels toward the end ofthe shaft G, said wedges passing through a cam wheel, said cam wheelcommunicating with the valve-stem through the medium of an eccentricstrap and rod and means for moving the wedges longitudinally to vary thelateral position of the cam wheel with respect to its position on theshaft, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. A supplemental shaft G, a cam-wheel D loosely mounted thereon, acrankland a journal G fixedly secured to the said shaft on each side of saidcam-wheel, wedges M M each having inclined outer surfaces supporting thecam-wheel D, recess in the crank I and journal G to permit longitudinalmovement of the said wedges with means as described for revolving theshaft G and varying the longitudinal adjustment of the wheels,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. A variable cut-off mechanism consisting of a revoluble shaft G havingsquared channeled ends, longitudinally adjustable wedges carried in saidchannelseccentric cam wheels adapted to fit over the square end of theshaft and wedges, said cam wheels transmitting motion to the valve-stemas described, a collar N loosely fitting on the shaft G, the bell crankP and connecting rod Q for moving the collar longitudinally upon theshaft to vary the position of the wedges and thereby the position of thecam wheel, substantially as described.

6. An adjustable valve mechanism, consisting of a shaft G having squareends, longitudinally adjustable Wedges M M mounted thereon in channels,a ring N longitudinally movable on said shaft, and link 0 0 connectingsaid ring with said wedges, and means for shifting the longitudinalposition of the ring N, in combination with the eccentric camwheel D,and means for transmitting motion to the valve-stem, and with the crankI and journal 'G, recessed'as shown to permit longitudinal adjustment ofthe wedges, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

FREDERICK P. HIGH. Witnesses:

J AS. A. KALBAUGH, CHAS. F. LINDSAY.

